Shloka 24

Matsya Purana — The Ravi-Śayana

Devanagari script

तस्यां विधाय तत्पद्मम् अलंकृत्य गुणान्वितम् कपिलां वस्त्रसंयुक्तां सुशीलां च पयस्विनीम् //

Transliteration

tasyāṃ vidhāya tatpadmam alaṃkṛtya guṇānvitam kapilāṃ vastrasaṃyuktāṃ suśīlāṃ ca payasvinīm //

Translation

Upon it, having fashioned that lotus-seat and adorning it with auspicious marks and virtues, one should offer a tawny cow—clothed, of good conduct, and abundant in milk.

Word by Word

• तस्याम्: upon/in that (vessel/altar/base mentioned earlier)

• विधाय: having made/arranged

• तत्पद्मम्: that lotus (lotus-seat/lotus emblem)

• अलंकृत्य: having adorned/decorated

• गुणान्वितम्: endowed with good qualities/auspicious attributes

• कपिलाम्: a tawny (kapilā) cow

• वस्त्रसंयुक्ताम्: furnished with cloth/garments

• सुशीलाम्: of good conduct, gentle-natured

• च: and

• पयस्विनीम्: abounding in milk, a milch cow.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Kapila cow
• Padma (lotus)

Tags

• Dana
• Go-dana
• Ritual procedure
• Merit
• Puranic ethics

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on merit-producing charity (dāna), specifying how a cow-gift should be properly arranged and offered.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

It frames dāna as a dharmic duty: a king or householder should give in a dignified, orderly way—offering a worthy, milk-yielding cow, properly clothed and presented—so the gift is ethically and ritually complete.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual detail is the preparation of a lotus-seat (padma) as a consecrated base for the offering, emphasizing correct arrangement and auspicious presentation in ceremonial gifting.